Letter-writing is an essential part of communication, an intimate part of experience. Each letter-writer has a characteristic way of writing, his style of writing, his manner of expressing his thoughts, ideas, etc. but it must be emphasized that the routine of official or semi-official business letters require certain accepted idiom, phrases, patterns and grammar which are found in general use today. Certain skills, therefore, must be acquired by practice, and details of writing must be carefully and thoroughly learnt.
The purpose of this Manual is to convey to the letter-writer these skills through the specimens of letters presented herein. The language of official and semi-official business letters is formal, courteous, tactful, concise, expressive, and to the point. Modern English letters should not be exaggerated, over-burdened, outmoted with time-worm expressions. Modern letters tend towards using the language of speech, i. e. conversational style, carefully avoiding the usage of the last century jargon. However the full and complete transition is still taking place.
